Department for Transport

Railways: Floods

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to rail companies to ensure they publicise passenger rights for compensation for disruption caused by the recent floods in Northern England.

Claire Perry: We are committed to improving compensation arrangements for delayed rail passengers. That is why we are introducing requirements in all new franchise agreements to both require that train operators make reasonable endeavours to make passengers aware of their rights to claim compensation and also to implement Delay/Repay. It is noteworthy that under Delay/Repay, which will apply to the new Northern and TPE franchises to start in April this year, there are no exclusions for delays outside the control of the rail industry, such as exceptionally severe weather conditions. This winter’s unprecedented weather conditions have caused disruption to services. Network Rail have been working hard to repair tracks in these atrocious conditions. We remain absolutely committed to getting all lines able to run full services as soon as possible and thank passengers for their patience whilst emergency repairs are made.

Ministry of Defence

Cyprus: Asylum

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people living in the Akrotiri and Dhekelia RAF Sovereign Base Areas have applied for asylum since October 1998; how many such applications have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected; and how many such people have been removed from the Sovereign Base Areas.

Penny Mordaunt: Since 1998 and up until October 2015, 67 People have applied for asylum in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), 29 of those were accepted as recognised refugees and 38 asylum claims were rejected.In October 2015 a group of 115 migrants arrived in RAF Akrotiri, 46 of those migrants temporarily resident in the SBA have lodged asylum claims that are being considered by the SBA Administration. As at 12 February 2016, six have been recognised as refugees by the SBA Administration and 15 have been issued asylum rejection letters. In total 85 migrants are no longer in the SBA. Those remaining who are not eligible for asylum will be liable for deportation.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Colombia: Homicide

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart on the number of trade union activists  who have been killed in Cartagena in the last six months.

Mr Hugo Swire: I am aware that a trade unionist was tragically killed in Cartagena on 15 December 2015. I understand that the Colombian authorities are investigating the case. We consistently urge the authorities to follow due process in all cases.Our Embassy in Bogotá takes every opportunity to urge the Colombian government to take further measures to prevent violence and threats against human rights defenders, including trade unionists. The British Ambassador in Bogota recently raised concerns about human rights defenders with the Colombian Interior Minister on 1 February and with the Presidential Advisor for Human Rights on 4 February. Furthermore, this year we are funding a Colombian NGO to develop protection measures for human rights defenders in rural areas. Our Embassy will continue to raise these issues in regular meetings with the Colombian government.

Syria: Sanctions

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect on employment levels in the Syrian textile industry of the application of sanctions on Syria; and if he will estimate the number of Syrian textile workers and their families who have left Syria due to the loss of employment arising from application of economic sanctions.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: International sanctions restrict the regime’s ability to wage war against the civilian population and pressure the regime to engage in negotiations with the opposition. The UK fully supports EU sanctions against Syria which are rigorously assessed to ensure restrictive measures are targeted and proportionate. We are mindful of the humanitarian impact of sanctions.There are no EU sanctions specifically on the Syrian textile industry and we are not aware of any direct impact of sanctions on employment levels in the textile industry.The high number of civilians fleeing Syria is a direct consequence of the regime’s brutal five-year war against the civilian population. The regime has repeatedly employed siege tactics, indiscriminately attacked densely populated areas and targeted civilian infrastructure. Therefore, only by securing a political solution to the Syrian conflict will it be possible to provide stability for Syrian workers and their families, and stop the current levels of people leaving Syria.

Armed Conflict: Schools

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to sign the Safe Schools Declaration to protect schools from being attacked or occupied for military purposes.

James Duddridge: The intention of the Safe Schools Declaration is for countries to support the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military use during Armed Conflict. While we welcome the spirit of the Declaration, we have concerns that the Guidelines do not mirror the exact language of International Humanitarian Law. We believe that better implementation of, and compliance with, existing International Humanitarian Law will provide the best protection for civilians, including children, in all situations of armed conflict.The UK, along with the US, France, Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia and other countries, was therefore not able to sign the Safe Schools Declaration in Oslo in May 2015.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on ensuring that Kurds are part of Syria peace talks.

Mr David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) has had a number of conversations about Syrian peace talks with the Foreign Minister of Turkey and other Turkish leaders, including during his recent visit to Turkey and at the Syria Conference in London. There was agreement on the importance of support to intra-Syrian negotiations on political transition in Syria. Any political settlement must be inclusive and we trust that the process will bring in a full range of Syria groups at the right time.

UK Membership of EU

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that mechanisms are in place under the proposed draft deal with Europe to prevent the gradual transfer of powers to Brussels through EU directives and parliamentary resolutions.

Mr David Lidington: The draft European Council texts presented to Parliament on 1 February are part of the ongoing renegotiation of the UK's EU membership. The draft text provided for a mechanism to ensure the EU's commitment to subsidiarity is fully implemented, but as the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), said in the House on 3 February, there are details that are still to be pinned down and intense negotiations to try and agree a deal with 27 other countries.More widely, the European Union Act 2011 ensures that if a change to the EU Treaties is proposed that would transfer a power from the UK to the EU, the consent of the British people in a referendum would be required before such a transfer could be agreed.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education: Performance Standards

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what sanctions can be taken against the Office of the Independent Adjudicator if it misses the 90-day target in issuing complaint outcomes set by the European Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what additional resources his Department plans to make available to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator to ensure it meets the 90-day target in issuing complaint outcomes set by the European Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Joseph Johnson: Should an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution provider, suchas the Office for the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA),be foundto be continually failing to comply with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations2015, the Government has set out a process that enables an appointed body (theChartered Trading Standards Institute) to monitor compliance, recommendimprovements and, ultimately, remove a body from the approved list.   The OIA is independent of Government and funded by compulsory subscriptionsfrom higher education providers. All higher education providers in receipt ofstudent support funding are required, through legislation, to join the OIA and paysubscription fees. The OIA makes an assessment each year of the level offunding it requires to ensure that its costs can be met.

Medicine: Research

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure UK universities are closely co-ordinating their medical research.

Joseph Johnson: My Department funds medical research in universities via the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC supports and encourages collaboration between UK universities across all of its funding programmes, and also supports collaboration through targeted initiatives such as:The Farr Institute, which is jointly funded by the MRC, Government and research charities and brings together 19 university partners to create a UK-wide platform for health informatics research. The Institute provides the physical and electronic infrastructure to facilitate collaboration across the partner universities, and support their safe use of patient and research data for medical research.MRC support for 13 stratified medicine research consortia, addressing conditions such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, schizophrenia and dementia. The initiative involves 32 UK universities, with each consortia involving around 7 universities. Working together, the Research Councils have developed an RCUK framework for principles in funding multi-institutional collaborations in research. Further details on the framework can be found here: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/funding/principles/.Innovate UK also works with universities to drive translation of university-based research and innovation into commercial applications which tackle disease and life-threatening illnesses. Additionally, Innovate UK, through the Catapult network, provides access to leading-edge technology, facilities and expertise in Cell and Gene Therapy, Precision Medicine and Medicines Technologies.

Antibiotics: Research

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on how many new antibiotics are in development by UK companies.

George Freeman: The Department does not hold information on how many new antibiotics are in development by UK companies.The independent review on antimicrobial resistance led by Lord O’Neill publication Securing New Drugs for Future Generations – the Pipeline of antibiotics, provides a high-level assessment of the development pipeline for new antibiotics:http://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/SECURING%20NEW%20DRUGS%20FOR%20FUTURE%20GENERATIONS%20FINAL%20WEB_0.pdf

Higher Education: Freedom of Expression

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications for freedom of speech in universities of recent reports of violent protests at an Israeli Society event at King's College London.

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that freedom of speech in universities is safeguarded; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reported forced closure of an Israel Society event at King's College London on his Department's policies.

Joseph Johnson: The Government strongly opposes any kind of violence or intimidation that curtails free speech in universities and leads to the closure of peaceful meetings.King’s College London has undertaken its own review of the protests at the Israeli Society event on 19th January and concluded that a number of individuals “intentionally disrupted the rights of others to exercise freedom of speech within the law”.Whilst the violent protests were deplorable, KCL has acted to reiterate its commitment to free speech and take disciplinary measures against individuals concerned.The Prevent duty introduced in September 2015 requires institutions to have robust policies and procedures in place to manage events such as this in order to protect students and staff and safeguard freedom of speech. As the designated monitoring body, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will be making an assessment of compliance with the requirements of the duty.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising in real terms in each year since 2010-11.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested is published in the department’s annual accounts. These can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217243/moj-annual-report-accounts-2010-11.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/MoJ/2012/moj-annual-report-accounts-2011-12.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208728/moj-annual-report-2012-13.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323308/moj-annual-report-2013-14.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/434016/moj-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-15.pdfData for the current financial year will be published in due course.The department is committed to reducing our back office and administrative budget by 50% by 2020. We only use temporary staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services, where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. We will continue to examine our use of consultants and agency staff to find savings where possible.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to reply to Question 15306, tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 16 November 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: I refer the honourable member to the answer which I gave in PQ 15306, answered on 17th February 2016.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 15306, tabled on 6 November 2015, on his Department's public expenditure.

Caroline Dinenage: I refer the honourable member to the answer which I gave in PQ 15306, answered on 17th February 2016.

Prisons

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the estimated value is of each prison in England and Wales.

Andrew Selous: The audited book value for each prison in England and Wales as at 31 March 2015 as listed in the Department’s asset register, can be found in the following table. The audited book value for each prison in England and Wales as at 31 March 2015 as listed in the Department’s asset register EstablishmentAsset Valuation as at 31.03.2015 (£m)[1]Public Prisons HMP Albany31.05HMP Bedford19.45HMP Belmarsh127.08HMP Belmarsh East/ ISIS122.53HMP Birmingham55.58HMP Blakenhurst69.67HMP Blantyre House5.50HMP Bristol24.93HMP Brixton27.82HMP Buckley Hall43.95HMP Bullingdon76.10HMP Bure38.88HMP Channings Wood40.28HMP Coldingley38.81HMP Cookham Wood32.50HMP Downview33.48HMP Durham36.05HMP Elmley84.43HMP Erlestoke41.75HMP Everthorpe24.12HMP Featherstone39.67HMP Ford29.28HMP Foston Hall15.09HMP Frankland93.91HMP Full Sutton71.85HMP Garth74.07HMP Gartree43.52HMP Grendon (Bucks.)18.58HMP Haslar IRC10.83HMP Haverigg17.54HMP Hewell Grange8.01HMP High Down113.83HMP High Point North (was Edmunds Hill)16.54HMP Highpoint South YOI47.73HMP Hollesley Bay17.82HMP Holme House104.75HMP Hull56.28HMP Kirkham31.76HMP Kirklevington Grange10.48HMP Leeds39.15HMP Leicester8.25HMP Leyhill Central28.09HMP Lincoln35.62HMP Lindholme79.93HMP Littlehey76.34HMP Liverpool55.12HMP Long Lartin50.96HMP Maidstone32.35HMP Manchester61.37HMP Moorland Open (Hatfield)13.68HMP Morton Hall IRC19.85HMP North Sea Camp11.25HMP Northumberland80.47HMP Nottingham76.13HMP Oakwood253.63HMP Parkhurst31.18HMP Pentonville54.73HMP Preston20.94HMP Ranby54.56HMP Risley56.74HMP Rochester42.81HMP Send26.89HMP Spring Hill7.96HMP Stafford23.77HMP Standford Hill31.44HMP Stocken99.73HMP Sudbury19.32HMP Swaleside97.40HMP Swansea15.72HMP The Mount100.83HMP The Verne IRC18.39HMP Usk9.01HMP Wakefield53.19HMP Wandsworth49.99HMP Wayland60.42HMP Wealstun76.35HMP Whatton40.94HMP Whitemoor75.90HMP Winchester27.18HMP Woodhill119.09HMP Wormword Scrubs89.58HMP Wymott66.04HMP/RC Cardiff36.92HMP/YOI Aylesbury46.79HMP/YOI Chelmsford38.75HMP/YOI Drake Hall15.50HMP/YOI Eastwood Park25.38HMP/YOI Exeter19.74HMP/YOI Feltham84.86HMP/YOI Glen Parva44.13HMP/YOI Guys Marsh38.11HMP/YOI Holloway41.26HMP/YOI Lancaster Farms58.88HMP/YOI Lewes38.06HMP/YOI Moorland Closed101.25HMP/YOI New Hall30.75HMP/YOI Norwich50.45HMP/YOI Prescoed10.26HMP/YOI Styal22.37HMYOI Brinsford43.70HMYOI Deerbolt24.92HMYOI Dover18.61HMYOI Hindley41.46HMYOI Huntercombe29.76HMYOI Low Newton14.34HMYOI Onley24.86HMYOI Portland34.79HMYOI Stoke Heath27.96HMYOI Swinfen Hall (Lichfield)40.49HMYOI Thorn Cross23.28HMYOI Warren Hill19.68HMYOI Werrington9.04HMYOI Wetherby34.92HMP Wolds39.79HMP Doncaster110.78HMP Camp Hill3.77HMP East Sutton Park7.70HMP/YOI Askham Grange6.30  PFI HMP Altcourse67.99HMP Ashfield26.32HMP Bronzefield70.11HMP Dovegate83.72HMP Forest Bank62.17HMP Lowdham Grange67.04HMP Parc124.43HMP Peterborough86.33HMP Rye Hill36.69HMP Thameside81.47 Footnote: HMP Dartmoor and HMP Kennet are leasehold properties The asset valuation includes valuations for the prison, land and dwellings associated with it. The method of valuation for these properties is described in the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15, Page 84 and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/434548/NOMS_AR14_15_report_accounts_Final_WEB.pdf Freehold prison buildings are specialised buildings and therefore valued at Depreciated Replacement Cost (i.e. the cost of replacing the existing asset with a modern equivalent and taking into account its age and condition). The audited book value is not the same as a commercial market valuation, which would be commissioned for the purposes of the disposal of a surplus property asset.[1] The asset valuation includes valuations for the prison, land and dwellings associated with it. The method of valuation for these properties is described in the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15, Page 84 and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/434548/NOMS_AR14_15_report_accounts_Final_WEB.pdf

Prisoners

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) women and (b) men held in prison in each of the last five years had been born in a prison.

Caroline Dinenage: The National Offender Management Service does not routinely collect this information.

Ministry of Justice: Consultants

Mr David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on external consultancy since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested is published in the department’s annual accounts. These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217243/moj-annual-report-accounts-2010-11.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/MoJ/2012/moj-annual-report-accounts-2011-12.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208728/moj-annual-report-2012-13.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323308/moj-annual-report-2013-14.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/434016/moj-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-15.pdf Data for the current financial year will be published in due course. As announced in the Spending Review, the MOJ is committed to reducing its admin spend by 50% over the course of this Spending Review period.

Criminal Proceedings: Mental Illness

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to give greater support to people with mental health vulnerabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Andrew Selous: Liaison and Diversion services place clinical staff at police stations and courts to assess and identify offenders for a range of health problems, including mental health, and then make referrals to treatment and support services. Information about their health needs can be shared so that court proceedings, decisions and sentences can be tailored to meet needs. Where appropriate offenders can be diverted towards appropriate interventions. In April 2014, services were launched in 10 trial areas, and extended in April 2015 to a further 15 areas. This brings current coverage to over half of England. We are also exploring how problem-solving courts can support people with complex needs. A working group has been established in partnership with the judiciary which will make recommendations in due course.

Young Offenders: Self-harm

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of self-harm and self-inflicted deaths among young people in custody.

Andrew Selous: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital and we are clear that reducing the level of self-inflicted deaths is of utmost importance. We have improved the assessment of young people’s risks and needs when they enter custody. We have also improved the specifications for Secure Training Centre and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) to place an increased emphasis on the management of self-harm and suicide including ensuring the appropriate skills and training of staff are in place to meet the needs of young people. In YOIs we have introduced new psychological services to better inform risk management and support those detained.

Prisoners: Compensation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been paid in compensation to prisoners in the last 12 months.

Andrew Selous: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. We robustly defend all cases and over the last three years have successfully defended two thirds of claims from prisoners.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to incentivise developers to co-fund the deployment of local fibre broadband networks to properties which are not scheduled for connection free of charge.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government’s recent announcement of a new deal bringing industry together will see fibre-based broadband offered to all new developments for free or part of a co-funded initiative. In addition, the Home Builders Federation are committed to promoting and supporting uptake of the co-funding offer among their membership.This new offer sets a high bar for all suppliers and developers in the market, and Government will be working with industry closely to monitor success over the next year.

Cybercrime: Small Businesses

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help small and medium-sized enterprises protect themselves against cyber-attack.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government’s National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) aims to tackle cyber crime and make the UK the safest place in the world to do business in the world. This includes the Cyber Essentials Scheme to protect businesses against common cyber threats and the cyber streetwise campaign which offers simple cyber security advice to small businesses and consumers. In addition to the £860 million investment under the NCSP between 2011-2016, in November 2015 the Chancellor announced a new five year £1.9 billion investment in cyber security to make the UK one of the best protected countries in cyber space.

Department for Work and Pensions

Local Housing Allowance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of private rented properties are priced above the local housing allowance in the (a) UK and (b) West Midlands.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available.

Long Term Unemployed People: Hearing Impairment

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision his Department is making to improve employment outcomes for long-term unemployed people with deaf impairment for whom British Sign Language is their first language.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government is committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. We offer a number of programmes and initiatives that successfully support disabled people into work, including deaf people or those with hearing loss who use British Sign Language.Employment programmes such as Work Choice, Specialist Employability Support and Access to Work help disabled people, including BSL users, find, start and remain in work. Access to Work has a dedicated Deaf and Hearing Loss Team, which ensures that people with deafness or hearing loss receive specialist advice and support. Deaf people and those with hearing loss represent the largest group of people helped by Access to Work.Last month, DWP took an important step in making Government services accessible to deaf people or those with hearing loss with the launch of the Video Relay Service (VRS), a six-month pilot which will ensure that BSL users can communicate with DWP staff quickly and easily. This service is available for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and the Access to Work enquiry lines. VRS can be accessed on a laptop or PC, or through an app on iOS or Android devices.On 4 January, DWP launched a call for evidence for its Market Review of Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/communications-for-people-who-are-deaf-or-have-hearing-loss-market-reviewThe Disability Confident campaign, launched in 2013, works to improve employer awareness and confidence in unlocking disabled people’s talents, including deaf people and those with hearing loss. We are encouraging employers to register their commitment to become more Disability Confident and receive an information pack and regular updates. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/disability-confidentThe Equality Act 2010 provides statutory protection against discrimination and sets out that employers must make reasonable adjustments for their disabled workers.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Floods: Calder Valley

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the current projections used by the Environment Agency on the expected frequency of extreme flooding in the Calder Valley in any given year are for a (a) 1.5 , (b) two and (c) four degree rise in average temperatures.

Rory Stewart: Current research undertaken jointly by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs suggests that corresponding to a 2 degree global average warming, rivers in the area of the Calder could see a 20% increase in typical flood flows by the 2080s compared to current levels. The Government’s National Flood Resilience Review will re-examine worst case extreme weather scenarios and the resulting potential flood impacts across the country.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward proposals to require private landlords to fit carbon monoxide alarms in any property that contains a fuel-burning appliance.

Brandon Lewis: Since 1 October 2015, landlords have been required to install carbon monoxide alarms in any room used as living accommodation which contains a solid-fuel burning appliance.We regulated for rooms with these appliances as they are responsible for a disproportionate number of carbon monoxide deaths and injuries compared to other combustion appliances.The Government therefore has no current plans to regulate further. These regulations are still very new and need time to bed in. A full review will be conducted in October 2017.

Private Rented Housing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what safeguards his Department plans to put in place to ensure that people who leave their council homes as a result of the proposed pay to stay scheme are able to afford private rented property in the same area.

Brandon Lewis: It is only fair that social tenants who can pay more should pay more. There are more than 40,000 tenants in social housing who benefit from subsidised rents but where the annual household income is over £50,000. We have however consulted on a proposal for a taper to ensure that work incentives are protected. If adopted, this would mean that households towards the lower end of the proposed income thresholds would see a low rise in their rent below market rental values in areas where market rent is higher than social rent. Of course, if tenants on incomes well above the proposed threshold wish to take up a rental opportunity in the private sector then this should be encouraged to free up social housing for those most in need.

Building Alterations: Planning Permission

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many Article 4 directions to restrict the application of permitted development rights in local areas have been made by (a) local planning authorities and (b) the Secretary of State in the last three years; how many times he has restricted or amended those developments by local planning authorities in that time; and how many such cases relate to planning permission for the construction of basements.

Brandon Lewis: Between 2013 and 2015 the Department was notified of 256 article 4 directions made by local authorities. The Department made no article 4 directions and modified eight.

Employment Schemes: Hearing Impaired

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will provide support to local councils to ensure they protect deaf clubs for people seeking support and help in getting back to work.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government recognises the important role that councils play in supporting those who need additional help when seeking to get back into the workplace. However, as democratically elected organisations, local authorities are independent from central Government and are responsible for managing their budgets in line with local priorities.This year’s Local Government Financial Settlement does provide a reasonable offer to local government, with a settlement which is essentially flat in cash terms, moving from £44.5 billion in 2015-16 to £44.3 billion in 2019-20. By 2020, when councils will be 100% funded by council tax, business rates and other local revenues, they will finally be fully accountable to their electorate for their financing, decisions and actions.

Local Government Services: Sign Language

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that councils do not discriminate against people for whom British Sign Language is their first language in the provision of council services.

Mr Marcus Jones: The responsibility for providing appropriate support to enable meaningful communication with deaf people by local authorities lies with the local authorities themselves.All local authorities have a legal responsibility under sections 20 and 29 of the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against disabled people in the provision of services and to make 'reasonable adjustments', which means for example providing information in an accessible format to allow deaf people to have equal access to their services.

Fracking: Planning Permission

Mr David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on removing from local authorities powers to veto planning applications for fracking.

James Wharton: Mineral planning authorities have a responsibility to consider planning applications for shale gas exploration under the Town and Country Planning regime. Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the local authority area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The Government has taken steps to ensure this locally led regime is effective, as set out in Written Ministerial Statements of 16 September, HCWS201 and HCWS202. This includes making available £1.2 million to ensure mineral planning authorities have adequate resource to reach timely decisions.Community involvement in planning applications and people’s safety and the environment will remain paramount. No decision has been made to take shale gas exploration out of this local authority led process.

Housing: Greater Manchester

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the Housing Investment Fund devolved to Greater Manchester Combined Authority homes over 10 years is in the form of (a) loans and (b) grants.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing Investment Fund is a loan, supported by a legal agreement in place between Manchester City Council (as the lead authority for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and DCLG. All of the Housing Investment Fund must be used as financial transactions to private sector organisations for the funding to qualify under the terms of that legal agreement.

Housing: Construction

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of the Housing Market Renewal Initiative.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders programme ran from 2002 to 2011 and created large-scale Whitehall targets for demolition and clearance across the Midlands and the North of England. The programme was cancelled under the last Government.

HM Treasury

Business: Taxation

Margaret Hodge: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax disputes with large businesses HM Revenue and Customs is engaged in; and what the value is of the tax that is being contested in those disputes.

Mr David Gauke: Until 31 March 2014, HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Large Business Service dealt with the tax affairs of around 800 of the largest businesses in the UK. From 1 April 2014, HMRC’s new Large Business directorate deals with the tax affairs of around 2,000 large businesses. At 31 December 2015, HMRC had enquiries open with 1,117 of the large businesses dealt with by the Large Business Directorate, covering 3,981 risks with £20.3 billion tax under consideration. At 31 December 2015, HMRC had enquiries open with 567 of the largest 800 businesses covering 2,826 risks with £16.8 billion tax under consideration. Tax under consideration is not actual tax either owed or unpaid. Rather, it is a tool which HMRC uses to guide its enquiries to focus on the most significant risks that exist at any particular time. The total is just a snapshot of work in progress and will naturally fluctuate as risks are addressed and new ones taken up.

Child Benefit

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the amount paid in child benefit to parents of children residing outside the UK who have died since a claim was set up in the last 10 years.

Mr David Gauke: The information requested is not available.

Tax Havens

Caroline Lucas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the proposal from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for an extended definition of a tax haven, with sanctions for countries defined as tax havens and companies using them to avoid taxes; and if he will press for the introduction of such a definition with other EU member states in the Council.

Caroline Lucas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the proposal from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for a mandatory Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) in the EU, in order to have one set of rules for calculating the taxable profits of companies operating in more than one member state; and if he will press for the introduction of such a CCCTB with other EU member states in the Council.

Caroline Lucas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on the proposal from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee to introduce comprehensive public country-by-country reporting for all multinational companies, in all sectors, by the first quarter of 2016; and if he will press for the introduction of such country-by-country reporting with other member states in the Council.

Mr David Gauke: The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) has a keen interest in tax, and hence put forward certain proposals. However, the Commission has the sole power of initiative in relation to legislative measures. Tax files are to be agreed by unanimity at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN). The European Parliament’s role in this process in not formal, and purely consultative. The term tax haven is often used as shorthand for low or zero tax jurisdictions. However, low tax rates are not by themselves harmful and the UK supports fair tax competition. The UK is working with other Member States in the EU Code of Conduct Group to identify harmful tax regimes and will continue to take strong action against aggressive avoidance and evasion. The UK and other Member States have not yet seen any proposals from the European Commission or the European Parliament on public country-by-country reporting (CbCR). The Commission is due to publish an Impact Assessment on public CbCR shortly, and we are interested in the results of their analysis. The UK will carefully consider any proposals put forward by the Commission. The UK played a leading role in encouraging other countries and jurisdictions to sign up to international tax transparency agreements during its G8 presidency in 2013. Thanks in large part to the UK's continuing leadership on this agenda, over 90 countries have now committed to exchange information on offshore accounts, beginning in 2017 or 2018. The UK also initiated the international work on CbCR and was the first country to formally commit to implementing the OECD model for CbCR, with legislation in the Finance Act 2015. We support the proposal to amend the Directive on Administrative Co-operation to require all EU Member States to adopt and exchange the OECD CbCR template. The European Commission intends to publish a revised proposal for a mandatory Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) later this year. The Government will wait to see the detail of the Commission’s proposal, including a robust impact assessment, before finalising its position. However, we have stated that the UK will not sign up to anything that undermines our tax sovereignty.

Minimum Wage: Enforcement

Caroline Lucas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of 5 February 2016, entitled New National Minimum Wage offenders named and shamed, for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs did not seek to prosecute Total Security Services Limited for non-payment of minimum wage arrears.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs cannot comment on the affairs of individual employers. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills set out how the Government operates civil and criminal enforcement of National Minimum Wage, which can be accessed by the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enforcing-national-minimum-wage-law

Cabinet Office

Cybercrime: Expenditure

Steven Paterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent by the National Cyber Security Programme in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: Since the UK’s first Cyber Security Strategy was published in 2011, we have invested £860m in a National Cyber Security Programme to support the UK’s economic prosperity, protect our national security and safeguard the public’s way of life by building a more trusted and resilient digital environment. The National Cyber Security Programme’s budget breaks down annually as follows: 2011/12 – £105m 2012/13 – £155m 2013/14 – £180m 2014/15 – £210m 2015/16 – £210m We are investing £1.9bn in the next Cyber Security Programme, from financial years 2016/17 until 2020/21, which will give the UK the next generation of cyber security and make our country one of the safest places to do business online.

Department of Health

In Vitro Fertilisation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make the new natural form of IVF treatment available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: It is for clinical commissioning groups to determine the provision of local fertility services based on local need and the best evidence of clinical effectiveness, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. ‘Natural in vitro fertilisation (IVF)’ would be subject to individual clinical decision-making if the patient’s circumstances indicated such an approach was appropriate. Women considering ‘natural IVF’ should discuss treatment options with their clinician and have regard to the relevant pages of the website of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority:http://www.hfea.gov.uk/natural-cycle-ivf.html

Multiple Sclerosis: Stem Cells

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make new stem-cell therapy available on the NHS for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Jane Ellison: The Government continues to support research through a range of funding agencies into new treatments for multiple sclerosis. Clinical trials are currently underway to test the potential of stem cell treatments for multiple sclerosis. Before any treatment could be made available on the National Health Service it would have to meet normal standards of safety and effectiveness.

Colorectal Cancer: Older People

Mr David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Bolton have been included in the Bowel Cancer Screening programme for over-60s in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme is a biennial programme, in which eligible men and women are invited every two years to be screened. Roll out of the programme began in 2006 and completed in 2010 offering screening from the ages of 60-69. The Programme then extended the screening age up to 74. In the last five years, over 19 million men and women have been invited to take part in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Since the Programmes introduction in 2006, over 24,000 cancers have been detected and over 146,000 patients have been managed for polyps, including polyp removal. The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme will be publishing further data with regards to local areas at a later date.

Department of Health: Consultants

Mr David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on external consultancy since 2010.

Jane Ellison: Spend on external consultancy is published annually in DH accounts and can be found in the following links. For 2014-15, page 130:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-of-health-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-to-2015 For 2013-14, page 120:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-of-health-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014 For 2012-13, page 112:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-of-health-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-to-2013 For 2011-12, page 142, and 2010-11, page 143:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-of-health-annual-report-and-accounts-for-2011-to-2012-published

Meningitis

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2015 to Question 20280, how many cases of meningococcal disease there have been in each year since 2010; and what the (a) case fatality rate and (b) reduction rate is in the incidence of the disease due to vaccines.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) collects data on laboratory confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in England. Data on case fatality rates is not available in the format requested. National data on the number of cases of IMD in England are published by PHE based on the number of laboratory confirmed cases. These data are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470608/Table_1_Invasive_meningococcal_infections_lab_reports__England_by_capsular_group___epi_year.pdf There are three meningococcal immunisation programmes in England at present which offer MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines to different age groups. The MenB and MenACWY vaccination programmes were both introduced within the last six months and it is too early to confirm any impact on the incidence of the disease due to these vaccines. The MenC vaccination programme has been in place since November 1999. In 1998/99, the epidemiological year before MenC vaccine was introduced, there were 883 cases of confirmed Group C IMD in England whereas in the last five epidemiological years there have been an average 28 cases confirmed each year; a persisting reduction of 97%.

Urinary System: Diseases

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of cranberries can play in reducing the frequency of prescribing antibiotics for simple infections such as urinary tract infections.

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to promote the consumption of cranberry products to prevent simple infections such as urinary tract infections.

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the health benefits of cranberries and their role in preventing the incidence of urinary tract infections in women and children; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The research database, Cochrane, published a study in 2012 which assessed the effectiveness of cranberry products in preventing urinary tract infections in susceptible populations. Researchers found that there is no objective evidence for the benefit of cranberry juice in preventing urinary tract infections. Therefore the Department has not taken steps to promote the consumption of cranberry products. The UK five year Antimicrobial Resistance strategy set out the need to stimulate the development of new antibiotics, rapid diagnostics and novel therapies. The DH commissioned the Wellcome Trust to undertake a review of alternative treatments in 2014. The review concluded that while many approaches have potential, there is a continued need for conventional antibiotics to treat the majority of infections for the foreseeable future. A paper, summarising the review “alternatives to antibiotics – a pipeline portfolio review” was published in the Lancet in January 2016. This is available at the following link:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00466-1